How Choose a topic of interest, spend a little time researching it, have a discussion then publish the notes - which are available on the site to read along!

Why The main benefits are the fostering of a greater understanding of the world before we die and hopefully, to prompt further thought and discussion from our listeners.

The topic we will be discussing in this episode is Political Correctness

Topic Overview

What can we not say this week? Who will I offend if I speak disparagingly about potatoes? The Irish? Christ. Oh wait, oh jeez-louise, son of a sea-cook. Can I say that? Has the increasingly thin skin of the younglings given rise to the Trump phenomenon, the sensible minority are all terrified about? A natural reaction to the eggshells we’ve all been forced to hover over. Social Justice warriors: happy now?

Off-topic

What we’re not talking about

Anything Sam Harris has said on the subject

I don’t see why that’s off the table

Talking Points

Each bullet is a talking point. Sub-bullets are topics that may or may not be covered. Usage: Read the bullet and sub-bullets then talk about some or all sub-bullets.

Politically Correct: ‘Conforming to a body of liberal or radical opinion, esp. on social matters, usually characterized by the advocacy of approved causes or views, and often by the rejection of language, behaviour, etc., considered discriminatory or offensive’ - OED

‘Political correctness as well as varied economic interests and anti-Semitism dictate that no third-world people can do wrong and no first-world people, right.’ - New York Review of Books (2002)

We can discuss the notion that universities shouldn’t be a place where students encounter opinions that differ to theirs.

Spate of white cops shooting unarmed black people

Any honest discussion in this area is career-endingly dangerous

Reasons for this.

Original intent

Benefit

How has it evolved?

Irony

Anti-inclusive

Suppression of social justice in favour of governmental blanketing

Cruel irony is a fickle mistress

Criticism

‘Free speech versus political correctness’

Has it gone too far? Tyranny of censorship

Overton Window

political correctness as a fundamental component in the development of authoritarian regimes

Handling non-binary gender expression e.g. should we be careful about what pronouns to use?

You’d better be careful about this you privileged slave owner.

How is it enforced?

The polite, emergent, social means e.g. it would be awkward to not toe the line. It’s insidious.

Lesser: “You will conform lest you face the full force of the law.” - Government

Greater: “It would be a bit crappy of you if you didn’t conform.” - A Friend

Conundrums

Supporting sexual equality while embracing multiculturalism

Newspeak

Restricting language is restricting thought

Stifling debate

Freedom of speech

Hate speechification

‘progressive stack’, affirmative action-a-like

College campuses

Safe rooms, spaces

trigger warnings

People with agendas

Weaponisation

group-based oppression

Government

Political usage

Radical leftist ideology

The Media

BBC

Jeremy Clarkson: I remember being called in to see Danny Cohen. I trudged all the way over the Broadcasting House and he said, "I understand you have a new dog and you have called it Didier Dogba. It is racist." I said, "It is not racist. We are all Chelsea fans in the family". He said, "Please tell me the dog is not black." I said, "It's a Scottish Terrier. Should I have called it John Terrier?"

Taking offence

‘Micro-aggressions’

Don't say anything if there's any chance someone might take offense

Triggered

Disproportionate response

“Whaaaaat did you just saaaaaaay! Aaaaaargh!”

Supposed or assumed right to defensive offensiveness

“You're a racist/sexist/classist pig for saying that”

Fake sensitivity

Hypocrisy

Governmental censure

Diplomacy versus intentional offence

Taking anti-pc rhetoric too far or using it as a licence to offend unnecessarily

Glossary

Terminology specific to the topic

Echo chamber A place where the complete sanity of your own words are reflected back at you. This is not to be confused with an anechoic chamber in which you are unable to hear the complete sense emanating from your face.

Identity PoliticsThe laden phrase “identity politics” has come to signify a wide range of political activity and theorizing founded in the shared experiences of injustice of members of certain social groups. Rather than organizing solely around belief systems, programmatic manifestos, or party affiliation, identity political formations typically aim to secure the political freedom of a specific constituency marginalized within its larger context. Members of that constituency assert or reclaim ways of understanding their distinctiveness that challenge dominant oppressive characterizations, with the goal of greater self-determination. - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

VictimisationWhen someone treats you badly or subjects you to a detriment because you complain about discrimination or help someone who has been the victim of discrimination. Because the Equality Act recognises you may be worried about complaining, you have extra legal protection when you complain about discrimination. - Citizens Advice

Virtue SignallingTo take a conspicuous but essentially useless action ostensibly to support a good cause but actually to show off how much more moral you are than everybody else. - Urban Dictionary